Starter for outboard motors



Jan. 20, 1959 K. I. CEDERMARK 2,869,531

STARTER FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed Feb. 9, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 20,1959 K. I. CEDERMARK 2,869,531 STARTER FoR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed Feb. 9,1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 almamu IN I 1959 I K. 1. CEDERMARK 2,869,531

STARTER FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed Feb. 9, 1955 5 SheetsSheet 3 IN V ENTOR.

2,869,531 Patented Jan. 20, 1959 hired States Patent STARTER FOROUTBOARD MOTORS Knut Ewan Cederinark, Solna, Sweden, assignor toAktiebolaget Elektrolux, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of SwedenApplication February 9, 1955, Serial No. 487,044

The handle 33, which is formed as a knob so that it can be readilygrasped in the hand, is formed-with a to the cord 27, such tightening ofthe set screws producing a double bend in the cord.

When the handle 33 is released, the cord 27 is wound Claims Imomyapphcatmn Sweden February 1954 on the drum 28 with the aid of aspiral-shaped spring 14 Claims. (Cl. 123-179) 36. As best shown in Fig.9, the outer end of the spring 36 is secured at 37 to the underside ofthe cover 11, and the inner end thereof is secured at .38 to a hollowsleeve My invention relates to outboard motors, and has as 39, Hence,the pulling action of the cord 27 on the an object the provision of animproved mechanical starter pl 34, which is effected by the spring 36,tends to hold therefor, which emhodifls cooperating elements that thelatter in the conical-shaped portion of the hollow ways move easily andfreely with respect to one another, h dl 33, a shown in Fig, 3, t0enable their bfiihg Started smoothly with a minimum The drum 23 andhollow sleeve 39 are secured to one of efiort. another and form aunitary member which is freely ro- The novel features which I believe tobe characteristic r mbl on th t d or in 15, The hollow leeve 39 i of yinvention are Set forth with particularity in the formed with a numberof openings which threadedly reclaims. The invention, both as toorganization and metheeive b lt 40, the latter'passing through alignedopen- Od, together with the Objects thereof, will be better n ings inthe side walls 29 and inner cylindrical plate or stood by reference tothe accompanying rawing of 2 hub so of the drum 28 to hold these partstogether. which Fig. l is a vertical section of a starter for outboardTh h ll sleeve 39 i j urnaled on the stud 15 by motors embodying yinvention; 2 is a horizontal an L-shaped bushing 41 having a verticallyextending sectional iew taken at line of gg- 3 is a part disposed aboutthe flange 18 and an horizontally fragmentary vertical section of thehandle of the starter extending t bearing against the top face of thewider Shown in Figs- 1 and 4 is an exploded elevation flange 19. Whenthe parts thus far described are in the View, partly in Section, ofParts of the starter Shown in position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, thecord 27 is wound Figs 1 and 2 to illustrate details more clearly; s 6about the drum 2s, and the handle 33 is held at the openand 7 are planviews of parts illustratedin 4; F g- 3 ing in the cover 11 by the actionof the spring 36. When is a C HaI View takfin at line of 9 is the handle33 is pulled to unwind the cord 27 from the a fragmentary bottom p Vihwof Parts Shown in g drum 23, the tension of the spring 36 increases,because 1 and and Figs- 10 and 11 are Similar bottom P the drum 28 andhollow sleeve 39 rotate as a single memvi w p y in n, of Parts shown inFigs- 1 and 2. her about the stationary stud is. When the handle 33 toillustrate more clearly thfi Operation of the Starteris subsequentlyreleased, rotating movement is imparted I igs- 1 and 2 I have ShOwIi y aflywheel 10 and to the drum 28 by the spring 36 which is under consideracover 11 of an outboard motor to which my invention is bl t i therebyefle tin winding of th rele ed applied, since an illustration of theseparts is all that is d on th d m until handl 33 engage the ov r 11 atnecessary for an understanding of the invention. T0 the the immediatevicinity of the opening through which the flywheel 10, which is securedin any suitable manner to d 27 passes, the vertical crankshaft (notshown) of the motor, is fixed In accordance with my invention, the pawls26 are a hollo leeve 12 having teeth at the outer periphery carried byand movable with the apertured plate 30, and thereof forming a ratchetWh el 14- Th Cover 1 s an annular or ring-shaped element 42,'which isfrictionremovably secured in any suitable manner to the housing allysecured to the stud 15, is employed to guide the pawls or casing of theoutboard motor. into engagement with the ratchet wheel 14 when the cordThe starter for the outboard motor, which is disposed 27 is initiallypulled to impart rotating movement to the within the cover 11, includesa stationary stud or pin 15 flywheel-10. A best shown in Fig. 1, the aertured haying P and bottom threaded Sections 16 and rcplate or disk 30,which is held between the inner periphp iv ly, n intermediate nl gsection including eral portions of the side walls 29 of the drum as, isat the flanges 18 and 19, and r d b05855 20 and p i i g same level asthe ratchet wheel 14 and disposed about the axially therefrom, as bestshown in Figs- 1 and 4} Th F latter. As seen in Figs. 10' and ll, thecentral opening in cover 11 is formed with an opening to receive the top05 the apertured plate so is of such size that a gap 43 is m. 17088 200f he stud t P threaded. sfictioll 16 0f vided between the ratchet wheel14 and the inner periph- Which receives a washer 22 andtightening nut23. The ral all of the plate 30. treme u er end of the stationary stud15 receives a Notches or recesses 44 are formed at the inner wall of capscrew 24 for removably holding in position a cap 2 the apertured plate3% at diametrically opposing sides which overlies the tightening nut 23andconceals the latthereof; Each of the recesses 44 includes acylindrical ter from view. v a or circular portion 45 having an angle ofenvelopment A best Shown in rotating movement isimpartcd which isgreater than 180, and a flat portion as which to ratchet wheel 14 bypawls 26 with the aid of a rope merges with the inner peripheral wail ofthe apertured or o -d 27 which is wound about a drum 28 having spacedplate and is tangent to the cylindrical or circular portion apart sidewalls 29 and an apcrtured plate or disk 30 45. The pawls 26 includecircular portions 26a which forming a h 0f the dfuih- The inner end ofthe p are retained and snugly fit in the cylindrical portions 45 27 issecured at 31 0 t hilt) and the Outer d of the recesses 44, andoutwardly extending arm portions thereof, which passes through anapertured resilient bush- 26b adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchetwheel 14, ing 32 positioned in an opening in the cover 11,is secured thearm portions projecting into the gap 43 through narto a handle 33, asseen in Figs.'2 and 3. row passages 47 at the regions the recesses 44communicate with the central opening within the apertured plate 30.-

or resilient -in character. located within the cup-shaped member 42aandfrictionally engages the inner-surface of the base 42b thereof, theouter surface of the base 42]) being held'against the --underside of theflange- 19 onthe stud or pin 15. The

'In the preferred embodiment being described, the annular or ring-shapedelement-42,- which serves to guide the pawls 26 into engagement with theratchet Wheel 14, is vertically disposed in the gap 43 at the region ofthe ratchetwheel ltd-and aperturedplate 3t). Asbest shown formed withrecesses or notches 43 at diametrically opposing sides thereof throughwhich the pawls 26 may pass during operation of the starter, as will beexplained more fully hereinafter.

The ring-shaped element- 42 may be referred to as a a guide member whichis frictionally'held on a stationary part of the starter.

In the preferred embodiment, the cup-shaped member 42a:is frictionallysecured to the stud or pin 15 in an inverted position, as best shown inFig. 1. The frictional engagement is effected by an apertureddish-shaped metallic member 49 which is springy The friction member-49is extent of the frictional engagement efiected between the stud or pin15 and the friction member 49 may be regulated by adjusting a tighteningnut 50 which bears against -a washer 51 which in turn engages theunderside of the friction member 49.

The operation of the starter just described is substantially as follows:When the knob 33 is pulled from the .cover 11 to unwind cord 27 from thedrum 28, the tension of spring 36 increases, because the drum 28 andQhollow sleeve 39 rotate as a single member about the stationary stud15. As the cord 27 i being unwound from the drum 28, rotating movementis imparted to the apertured plate or hub part 30 in which the pawls 26are positioned. Hence, the pawls 26 are bodily carried by the aperturedplate 30, and move with the latter about the stationary stud 15. Whenmovement is initially imparted to the plate 30 and pawls 26 carriedthereby, the ring-shaped element or guide member 42 remains stationarybecause it is frictionally held in place by the friction member 49. I

With movement being imparted to the plate 30 and pawls 26 in acounterclockwise direction in the direction of the arrow A, as seen inFig. 10, the leading edges of the arms 26b of the pawls will engage andcontact the axially extending edges 52 of the diametrically opposing'notches 48 of the ring-shaped element or guide member 42. Since thepawls 26 are moving with respect to the guide member 42, the pawl arms26b move over the -edges 52 of the notches and turn radially inward, thecircular portions 26a of the pawls rotating in the recesses 45 of theplate 30 with such movement of the pawls. "-Hence, the ring-shapedelement serves to guide the pawls 26 and bring the latter intoengagement withthe 'ratchet wheel 14.

force exerted on the guide member 42 by the pawls 26 is sufficientlygreat to overcome the frictional engagement of the guide-member on thestud 15. Since the crankshaft of the outboard motor is connected to theflywheel ,.10,.and the ratchet wheel. 14 in turn is connected to thelatter..rotating..movement imparted to the ratchet wheel .14 will beeffective to turn the, motor crankshaft and eifect starting of theoutboard motor.

I When the cordknob .33 is released,'the spring36, which is underconsiderable tension, will be effective-to withthe plate -and pawls'26mounted thereon. .when the cord 27 is wound on the drum 28, and rotatingmovementno longer' is being imparted to plate '30, the pawls 26'will'bein the position shown in Fig. ll when impart rotating movement to drum23, whereby the cord 27 will be wound thereon. When this occurs, plate30 will be moved in a clockwise direction in the direction of the arrowB in Figs. 10 and 11, thus causing the pawls 26 to be moved out ofengagement with the ratchet wheel 14. During this relatively shortinterval of time, the friction member 49 effectively holds the guidemember 42 stationary on the stud 15.

When the pawls 26 have moved radially outward to such an extent that theprojecting arms 26b thereof bear against the fiat portions 46 of therecesses 44, as seen in Fig. 11, the pawls 26 can no longer rotate orturn about the circular portions of the recesses, and will remainstationary on the-plate 30 while the latter is moving clockwise in thedirection of the arrow B. With such movement of the plate 30, theprojecting arms 26b of the pawls engage and come in contact with theaxially extending edges 53 of the notches 48 of the guide member 42,as'shownin Fig. 11. When the force exerted on the guide member42' by thepawls 26 is sufificiently great to overcome the frictional engagement ofthe guide member on the stud 15, the guide member will rotate as a unitHence,

the cord 27' again is pulled from the drum 28 to start the outboardmotor. In such position, the pawls 26 are effectively locked in an"inoperative position between the 30 flat portions'46'of thereces'ses44and the edges 53 of the notches 48 in the guide member 42. I In view' oftheforegoing, it will now be understood than an improved starter hasbeen provided for mechanically'starting' outboard motors, in which thecooperating elements always move easily and freely with respect to'oneanothery'andthe tendency for elements to jam is completely'avoided.The notche or recesses 44 in the plate 30'essentially' form housings forthe pawls 26, 'in

which the latterare always freely turnable about their pivotal axes."The free turning movement of the pawls 26 is promotedbypro'viding thecircular portions 26a which are freely journaled in the cylindricalportions 45 of the recesses. The pawls 26 are held in position by the"side walls' 29 of the drum 28, the latter serving as retaining walls topreventaxial movement of the pawls.

Since the pawls 26 always assume the position shown in Fig. 11' afterthe cord 27 is released and has been wound'on'the drum 28'by the actionof the spring 36, the .pawls 26 will always move radially inward inpaths of "movement whichfare free-'of'any'obstructions when the starteris operated then'ext time. Further, all of the forces for effectingoperation of the starter are produced and transmitted throughcooperating elements disposed at essentially the same horizontallyextending plane transverse 'to'the axis of the stud 15. By reason ofthis constructiom the outboard motor to which the flywheel 10'lsconnected may be started smoothly with a minimum of effort.

Modifications of the embodiment of my invention whichIvhavedescribedwill occur to those skilled in the art, so-that'I desiremy invention not to be limited to the particulararrangement-set forth'andintend in the'claims to .-cover all modifications whichdo not departfrom the spirit and scope of the invention.

-What-is claimed-is: e 1.: A starter for-an outboard motor having aflywheel,

such starter comprising a'stationary part including a stud,

structure mountedfor rotation on said stud, said rotatable structure.including a drum having a-cord wound thereon, 701

. movable' with-respect thereto,- an element connected '-tooneor.morepawls carried by said structure and. pivotally the flywheelwhich is adapted to-be engaged by said pawl or pawls, a guide member,means for mounting said guide -rnember infrictional engagementwith saidstationary part, 1 sa1d,.-.gu 1de1member-having; apart --disposedbetweenesaid wheel when said cord is unwound from said drum'to effectrotation of said structure, said last-mentioned guiding means beingeffective to cause said pawl or pawls to turn about their pivotal axesduring movement thereof toward said element, and means including saidpawl or pawls for overcoming the frictional engagement of said guide.member on said stationary part and effecting movement of said guidemember after said pawl or pawls are in engagement with said elementconnected to the flywheel.

2. A starter for an outboard motor having a flywheel, such startercomprising a stationary part including a stud, structure mounted forrotation on said stud, said rotatable structure including a drum havingacord wound thereon, means operable to effect rotation of said structureand wind said cord on said drum, said last-mentioned winding means beingrendered operable responsive to unwinding of said cord from said drum,one or more pawls carried by said structure and pivotally movable withrespect thereto, an element carried by the flywheel which is adapted tobe engaged by said pawl or pawls, a guide member, means for mountingsaid guide member in frictional engagement with said stationary part,said guide member having a part disposed between said element and saidrotaable structure at the vicinity of said pawl or pawls, meansincluding said guide member for guiding said pawl or pawls intoengagement with said element for impart ing rotating movement to theflywheel when said cord is unwound from said drum to effect rotation ofsaid structure, said last-mentioned guiding means also serving to guidesaid pawl or pawls out of engagement with said element When saidwindings means effects rotation of said structure in the act of windingsaid cord on said drum, said guiding means being effective to cause saidpawl or pawls to turn about their pivotal axes during movement thereoftoward and from said element, and means including said pawl or pawls forovercoming the frictional engagement of said guide member on saidstationary part and effecting movement of said guide member after saidpawl or pawls are in and out of engagement, respectively, with saidelement connected to said flywheel.

3. A starter for an outboard motor having a flywheel, such startercomprising a stationary part including a stud, structure mounted forrotation on said stud, said rotatable 6 said pa w l or pawls, a guidemember, means for mounting said guide member in frictional engagementwith said stud, said guide member including a part .of annular formwhich is disposed about said element connected to the flywheel, meansincluding said guide member for guiding said pawl or pawls radiallyinward into engagement with structure including a drum having a cordwound thereon,

one or more pawls which are carried by said structure and pivotallymovable with respect thereto, an element connected to the flywheel whichis adapted to be engaged by said pawl or pawls, a guide member, meansfor mounting said guide member in frictional engagement with saidstationary part, means including said guide member for guiding said pawlor pawls into engagement with said element for imparting rotatingmovement to the flywheel when said cord is unwound from said drum toeffect rotation of said structure, said last-mentioned guiding meansbeing effective to cause said pawl or pawls to turn about their pivotalaxes during movement thereof toward said element, and means includingsaid pawl or pawls for overcoming the frictional engagement of saidguide member on said stationary part and effecting movement of saidguide member after said pawl or pawls are in engagement with saidelement connected to the flywheel, and said rotatable structure having aportion which forms a housing for said pawl or pawls and a hub for saiddrum which extends radially outward from the axis of said stud.

4. A starter for an outboard motor having a flywheel, such startercomprising a stationary part including a stud, structure mounted forrotation on said stud, said rotatable structure including a drum havinga cord wound thereon, one or more pawls which are carried by saidstructure and pivotally movable with respect thereto, an elementconnected to the flywheel whichis adapted to be engaged by said elementfor imparting rotating movement to the flywheel when said cord isunwound from said drum to effect rotation of said structure, saidlast-mentioned guiding means being effective to cause said pawl or pawlsto turn about their pivotal axes during radially inward movement thereoftoward said element, and means including said pawl or pawls forovercoming the frictional engagement of said guide member on saidstationary part and effecting movement of said guide member after saidpawl or pawls are'in engagement with said element connected to theflywheel.

5. A starter as set forth in claim 4 in which said guide member ofannular form is provided with one or more recesses through which saidpawl or pawls are adapted to pass radially inward when being guided bysaid guiding means.

6. A starter as set forth in claim 5 in which said means for overcomingthe frictional engagement of said guide member on said stud includessaid pawl or pawls and the edge or edges of the recess or recesses whichare in the path or paths of movement of said pawl or pawls after thelatter are in engagement with the element connected to the flywheel.

7. A starter for an outboard motor having a flywheel. such startercomprising a stationary part including a stud, structure mounted forrotation on said stud, said rotatable structure including a drum havinga cord Wound thereon, one or more pawls which are carried by said memberand pivotally movable with respect thereto, an element connected to theflywheel which is adapted to be engaged by said pawl or pawls, a guidemember, means for mounting said guide member in frictional engagementwith said stationary part, means including said guide member for guidingsaid pawl or pawls into engagement with said element for impartingrotating movement to the flywheel when said cord is unwound from saiddrum to effect rotation of said structure, said last-mentioned guidingmeans i being effective to cause said pawl or pawls to turn about ,andpivotally movable therein, and means to hold said pawl or pawls inposition and prevent axial movement thereof with respect to said plate.

- SJAstarter as set forth in claim 7 in which said recess L, V o --"orrecesses include "a circular portion having an angle of envelopmentgreater than and a flat portion which merges 'with' the inner peripheralwall of said apertured plate and is tangent to the circular portion,said pawl or pawls having a cylindrical-shaped section which is turnable in the circular portion of said recess and an arm sectionprojecting radially inward toward said element.

9. A starter as set forth in claim 8 in which said guide member ismounted in frictional engagement with said stud and includes a part ofannular form which is disposed about said element connected to theflywheel, said guiding means including said guide member being effectiveto guide said pawl or pawls radially inward into engagement with saidelement.

10. A starter for an outboard motor having a flywheel, such startercomprising a stationary part including a stud, structure mounted forrotation on said stud, said rotatable structure including a drum havinga cord -woundthereon, means including a ,spi'rah spring which isoperable to eifect rotation ofsaid-structureand wind saidcordon saiddrum, said last-mentioned winding means beingrendered operableresponsive to-unwinding of saideord from said drum, one or more pawlswhich are carried by said structure and pivotally movablewith respectthereto,- an

annular form which is disposed aboutsaid element connected to theflywheel, means including said guide-memher for guiding said pawl orpawls'radially'inward into engagement with said element for -impartingvrotating movement to the flywheel when said cord is unwound from saiddrum to effect rotation of said structure, said guiding means includingsaidguide member also being eflective to guide said pawls radiallyoutward out ofengagement with said element, and said guide member andspiral spring being movable with said pawl or'pawls andalso with saidelement when said pawl or pawls are in engagement therewith androtatingmovement is-being imparted to said rotatable structure in'theact of unwindingsaid cord from said drum.

11. A starter for an outboard motor having a flywheel, such startercomprising a stationary part includinga stud, structure mounted forrotation on said stud,said rotatable structure including a drum having aeordwound thereon, one or more pawls which are carried by said structureand pivotally movable with respect thereto, an element connected to theflywheel which is adapted to be engaged t by said pawl or pawls, acup-shaped guide member, means for mounting said cup-shapedguidemem'berinan inverted position on said stud in frictional engagementtherewith, the downwardly extending side wall of saidguide memberforming a ring-shaped part which is disposed about said elementconnected to the flywheel, means in eluding said guide member forguiding said pawl or, pawls radially inward into engagement with saidelement for imparting rotating movement to the flywheelwhen said cord isunwound from said drum to effect rotation of said structure, saidlast-mentioned guiding means including said ring-shaped part beingeffective to cause said pawl or pawls to turn about their pivotal axesduring radially inward movement thereof toward said element, and meansincluding said pawl or pawls for overcoming the frictional engagement ofsaid guide member on said stationary part and eflecting movement of saidguide member after said pawl or pawls are inengagement withsaid elementconnected to the flywheel.

12. A starter as set forth in claim 11 in whieh said ring-shaped part isprovided with one or more vertically extending notches through whichsaid pawl or pawls'are adapted to pass radially inward when being guidedby said guiding means. v

13. A starter for an outboard motor having a flywheel, such startercomprising a stationary part including a stud, structure mounted forrotation on said stud,

said rotatable structure including a drum having a cord wound thereon,means operable to effect rotation of said structure and wind said cordon said wdrum, said-lastmentioned winding means beingrenderedoperablelesponsive to unwinding of said cord from said drum,pawls carried by said structure and pivotally movable with respectthereto, an element carried by the flywheel which is adapted to beengaged by said, pawls, a,guide member, means for mounting said guidemember in frictionalengagement with saidstationary part, meansineluding-said guidemernber-for guiding said pawls-into :engagement with.said element for imparting rotating movement to the flywheel when saidcord is unwound from said drum to effect rotation'of said structure,said last-mentioned guiding means also serving to guideisaid v pawls outof engagement with said element when said winding means effects rotationof said member in the 1 act of winding said cord on said drum, saidguiding means -being eiiective tocause said pawls to turn about theirpivotal axesduring movement thereof toward and from said element, andmeans including. said pawls forovercoming the frictional engagement ofsaid guide member on saidstationarypart and effecting movement of saidguide 15 member aftersaid pawls are in and out of engagement,respectively, with said element connected to said flywheel, saidrotatable member including a plate having a central opening which isdisposed about said element eontneeted to the flywheelgtheperipheralwall of said plate 20.

notches and preventing axialmovement thereof -with respect to saidplate.

I 14. A starter for an outboard motor having a flywheel,

such starter comprising a stationary part including a a stud, structuremounted for'rotation on said stud, said 1 rotatable structure includinga drum having a cord wound tureand wind said cord on said drum, saidlast-mentioned thereon, means operable to effect rotation of saidstrucwinding means being rendered'operable responsive -to unwinding ofsaid cord, one 'or more pawls rotatable about said stud responsive tomovement of said rotatable structure, said pawl or pawls beingpivotally'movable with respect to said rotatable structure and axiallyimmovable with respect to said stud, a cup-shaped guide member, meansfor mounting'said guide member in fricctional engagement with saidstationary part, said cupl shaped guide member having a side-walldisposed about said element connected to the flywheel, means-includingsaid guide member for guiding said pawl or-pawls-radially inward intoengagement with said element for imparting rotating movement to theflywheel whensaid cord is unwound from said drum to effect rotation ofsaid structure, said last-mentioned guiding means also serving toguidesaid'pawls radiallyoutward out ofengagement with'said element when'saidwinding means effects rotation of said member in the act of windingsaid-cordon :said drum, said guiding means being effective to cause saidpawl or pawls to 'turn about theirtpivotal axes-during movement thereoftoward and from said element, and means including said pawl or pawls forovercoming thefrictional engagement of said guide member on saidstationary partand efiecting movement of said guide member after saidpawls are in and out of engagement, respectively, with said elementconneetedto said fly- Armstrong Dec. '4, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,869,531 January 20, 1959Knut IWan Oedermark It is hereby certified that err of the above numberor appears in the printed specification Patent should read ed patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters as corrected below.

Column 6, line 34,- i'or' the Word member" rea d m structure column 8,line 19, before th e Word "peripheral" insert irne Signed and sealedthis 15th day of September 1959 (SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT (J. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

